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Local Indigenous TikTok creator taking part in NSI accelerator program

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/12/2021 (1402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

 

An East Kildonan resident is making waves on social media.
Star Anderson is among 30 Indigenous creators from across Canada selected for the first TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators. Presented by the National Screen Institute, the six-week program provides participants with technical training, media career building and sessions on social responsibility and digital wellness, under the guidance of some of TikTok’s leading Indigenous creators.
“We have so many untold stories that are waiting to be shared,” said program advisor Sherry Mckay in a statement. “Because there are teachings in each story, my hopes are that these creators will gain the technical skills and knowledge to not only tell their stories, but inspire others to do so as well.”
“I had a few of my followers tag me a post about it, saying I should apply,” Anderson, who is Anishinaabe, said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d get accepted.”
Anderson, a 31-year-old mother of two boys, said she first got into TikTok in March 2020 during the first lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I downloaded it to basically embarrass my kids and make videos,” Anderson laughed. “It really took off after that.”
Today, Anderson, who posts to TikTok @staranderson1, has over 43,700 thousand followers on the social media site, which is the world’s leading site for short-form mobile video. Her videos, which often offer glimpses of her life and lots of humour, have garnered over 348,400 likes.
“I really like the Native TikTok, the issues and the humour of it,” she said. “So I’ve been really liking that.”
The NSI’s TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators program started with a sharing circle led by Elder Allen Sutherland on Nov. 8. Anderson is joined by fellow Winnipeggers Sebastian Gaskin, Zachary Mann, and Matthew Brian Shorting, and 26 others from across the country.
“It’s super informative. There’s 30 of us, and we’re all connected now. We have a group chat going,” Anderson said. “We’re learning about lighting and video editing, how to create on different social platforms and really expand your platform.”
While Anderson’s posts continue in the cheeky vein in which she started posting, she has also started posting about issues like missing and murdered Indigenous women, and giving her followers more insight into her life as an Anishinaabe woman.
“With the program, I find that they are teaching us to go a little out of our comfort zone,” she said. “So I want to focus more on that. To raise awareness. To let people see me for me.”
As she continues with the Accelerator program, Anderson said she hopes to one day for her account to be verified TikTok.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” she said. “But now I want to focus on creating content and putting my time and energy into this.”

 

An East Kildonan resident is making waves on social media.

Supplied photo
East Kildonan’s Star Anderson is one of 30 Indigenous creators from across Canada taking part in the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators, a program presented by the National Screen Institute.
Supplied photo East Kildonan’s Star Anderson is one of 30 Indigenous creators from across Canada taking part in the TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators, a program presented by the National Screen Institute.

Star Anderson is among 30 Indigenous creators from across Canada selected for the first TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators. Presented by the National Screen Institute, the six-week program provides participants with technical training, media career building and sessions on social responsibility and digital wellness, under the guidance of some of TikTok’s leading Indigenous creators.

“We have so many untold stories that are waiting to be shared,” said program advisor Sherry Mckay in a statement. “Because there are teachings in each story, my hopes are that these creators will gain the technical skills and knowledge to not only tell their stories, but inspire others to do so as well.”

“I had a few of my followers tag me a post about it, saying I should apply,” Anderson, who is Anishinaabe, said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d get accepted.”

Anderson, a 31-year-old mother of two boys, said she first got into TikTok in March 2020 during the first lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I downloaded it to basically embarrass my kids and make videos,” Anderson laughed. “It really took off after that.”

Today, Anderson, who posts to TikTok @staranderson1, has over 43,700 thousand followers on the social media site, which is the world’s leading site for short-form mobile video. Her videos, which often offer glimpses of her life and lots of humour, have garnered over 348,400 likes.

“I really like the Native TikTok, the issues and the humour of it,” she said. “So I’ve been really liking that.”

The NSI’s TikTok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators program started with a sharing circle led by Elder Allen Sutherland on Nov. 8. Anderson is joined by fellow Winnipeggers Sebastian Gaskin, Zachary Mann, and Matthew Brian Shorting, and 26 others from across the country.

“It’s super informative. There’s 30 of us, and we’re all connected now. We have a group chat going,” Anderson said. “We’re learning about lighting and video editing, how to create on different social platforms and really expand your platform.”

While Anderson’s posts continue in the cheeky vein in which she started posting, she has also started posting about issues like missing and murdered Indigenous women, and giving her followers more insight into her life as an Anishinaabe woman.

“With the program, I find that they are teaching us to go a little out of our comfort zone,” she said. “So I want to focus more on that. To raise awareness. To let people see me for me.”

As she continues with the Accelerator program, Anderson said she hopes to one day for her account to be verified TikTok.

“That’s the ultimate goal,” she said. “But now I want to focus on creating content and putting my time and energy into this.”

Sheldon Birnie

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@canstarnews.com Call him at 204-697-7112

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